Rotating seesaw



V. L. BRAND ROTATING SEESAW Dec. 6, 1955 Filed June v19, 1953 2Sheets-Sheerl l IN V EN TOR.

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V. L. BRAND ROTATING SEESAW Dec. 6, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 19,1955 INVENTOR.

L, SQA/v0 TTOIVEYS United States Patent Office 2,726,085 Patented Dec.6, 1955 ROTATING sEEsAw Virgil L. Brand, Sutherland, Nebr. ApplicationJune 19, 195s, senat No. 362,763 4 Claims. (Cl. 272-30) This inventionrelates to merry-go-rounds and more particularly to a simplified or toymerry-go-round that does not require power for its operation and can beadapted for use by a single occupant, if desired.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide a merry-go-round ofsimplified construction which is easy to erect and requires no powerother than thatprovided by the occupant or occupants thereof for itssuccessful operation; which has aseat movable in an orbit around a xedvertical axis and resiliently supported for up and down movement toprovide an occupant with the sensation of riding a running or buckinghorse; which provides a seat on which an occupant, such as a smallchild, is safely supported; which can be mounted directly on the groundor on a platform, as may be desired; and which is strong and durable inconstruction, economical to manufacture, safe and entertaining to use,and neat and attractive in appearance.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a considerationof the following description and the appended claims in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a merry-go-round illustrative ofthe invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the merry-goround;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a transverse cross sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on an enlarged scale onthe line 5 5 of Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a transverse cross sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure1.

With continued reference to the drawings, the 1nerrygo-round has acenter post 19 which may be conveniently provided from a section of ironpipe of sufcient diameter having at one end an annular, external flange11 provided with angularly spaced apart apertures. In the operativeposition of the merry-go-round the other end of the center pipe 1@ isembedded in the ground or suitably secured to a permanent or movableplatform in a manner to support the pipe in upright or verticalposition.

A top plate 12 is mounted on the top end of the center post 1) andprovided with angularly spaced apart apertures registering respectivelywith the apertures in the flange 11 and bolts 13 extending throughregistering apertures in the top plate and the post flange firmly securethe top plate on the top end of the center post. The top plate isprovided with an upper bearing receptacle 14 in the form of acylindrical boss extending upwardly from the top plate and with a lowerbearing receptacle 15 disposed below the top plate and secured theretoby a sleeve formation 16 extending between the lower bearing receptacleand the lower surface of the top plate. An antifriction ball or rollerbearing 17 is mounted in the upper bearing receptacle 14 and a similaranti-friction ball or bearing 18 is mounted in the lower bearingreceptacle 15.

A shaft or journal 20 extends through the bearings 17 and 18 and issupported by the bearings for free rotation about a substantiallyvertical axis and a nut 21 is threaded onto the lower end of the shaft20 below the lower antifriction bearing 18. This nut bears against athrust Washer 22 which in turn bears against the bottomend of the innerrace of the lower anti-friction bearing 18 the shaft being provided withan annular collar 23 resting on the upper end of the inner race of theupper bearing 17 so that the two antifriction bearings can be preloadedand adjusted to. take up wear. The upper end of the shaft 2? is attenedand apertured to provide an apertured lug formation 24 of rectangularcross sectional shape at the top end of the shaft.

A bracket 25 is mounted on the upper end of the shaft 29 and comprisesan elongated, tubular socket 26 and a pair of apertures lugs 27 and 2Sextending perpendicularly from the socket near one end of the socket anddisposed at respectively opposite sides of the lug 24 on the upper endof the shaft 20. A pivot bolt 29 extends rough the registering aperturesin the lugs 24, 27 and 28 and pivotally connects the bracket 25 to theupper end of the shaft 20 for tilting or rocking movement of the bracketabout an axis perpendicularto the rotational axis of the shaft.

An elongated, tubular arm 30 has one end inserted in the socket sleeve26 and is secured in the socket sleeve against movement relative theretoby suitable means, such as the set screw 31 threaded through a tappedhole in the socket sleeve and bearing at its inner end against the arm30, the arm Si? being tiltable about the axis of the pivot bolt 29 androtatable about the axis of the shaft 20.

A iiat platform 32 is disposed perpendicular to the center post 10 belowthe top flange 11 on the center post and has a rounded notch 33 in theedge thereof adjacent the center post, the edge of which notch extendspartly around the center post. Rollers 34 and 35 are journaled on theplatform 32 with their rotational axes substantially perpendicular tothe platform and adjacent the notch 33 and these rollers projectoutwardly of the notch sufficiently to bear against the outer surface ofthe center post at locations spaced apart circumferentially of thecenter post. L-shaped braces 37 and 38 are secured at their lower endsto the platform 32 at the respectively opposite corners of the platformalong the edge thereof remote from the center post 10, and these bracesextend perpendicularly upward from the platform and have their upperends disposed substantially parallel to the platform and interposedbetween the lugs 27 and 28 respectively and the lug 24. These braces areprovided near their upper ends with apertures receiving the Vpivot bolt29 so that the platform 32 is supported by the braces from the pivotbolt and bears against the center post 10.

A sleeve 40 receives the tubular socket 26 intermediate the length ofthe socket and is secured in position on the socket by suitable means,such as the set screws`41 and 42 threaded through tapped holes in thesleeve and bearing at their inner ends against the outer surface of thesocket 26. Apertured lugs 44 and 45 extend perpendicularly from thesleeve 40 medially of the lengthy ofthe sleeve and in spaced'apart andsubstantially parallel relationship to each other and a top abutmentplate 46 is disposed below the lugs 44 and 45 and provided withapertured lugs 47 and 43 extending upwardly therefrom in spaced apartand substantially parallel relationship to eachother anddisposed betweenthe lugs 44 and 45 on the sleeve 40, A pivot bolt 49 extends through theregistering apertures in the lugs A4:4, 45, 47 and 4S and pivotallyconnects. the upper abutment plate 46 to the sleeve 40.

The platform 32 is provided between the lower ends of the braces 37 and38 with an aperture 50 and a tubular stem 51 extends slidably throughthe aperture 50 and carries a lower abutment plate 52 on its upper end.A coiled compression spring 53 is disposed between the upper abutmentplate 46 and the lower abutment plate 52 and resiliently supports thearm 30 in position such that the longitudinal center line of the arm issubstantially at right angles to the pivotal axis of the pivot bolt 29and the rotational axis of the shaft 20. The stem 51 is provided with aseries of diametrically extending apertures 54 spaced apartlongitudinally thereof and a stop pin 55 is extended through selectedapertures of this series and bears at its ends on the upper surface ofthe platform 32, as illustrated in Figure 4, to adjustably position thestem 51 relative to the platform 32 to support the arm 30 in properposition and to compensate for variations in the weight of occupants orpassengers carried by the arm at the outer end thereof.

A seat structure 56 is mounted on the outer end of the arm 30 andcomprises a flat body shaped to simulate a hobby horse in outlinesecured at one side to the outer end of the arm by suitable means, suchas the external, annular flange 57 secured on the outer end of the armand the bolt 58 extending through angularly spaced apart apertures inthis flange and corresponding holes in the body 60. A flat seat 61 ismounted on the upper edge of the body 60 above the outer end portion ofthe arm 30 and is disposed substantially parallel to the arm and ahandle pin 62 extends through the body 60 above and forwardly of theseat 61 and is disposed substantially parallel to the seat.

With this arrangement, an occupant seated on the seat 61 will straddlethe body 60 and can grasp the handle pin 62 at the opposite sides of thebody to hold himself rmly and-safely on the seat. The spring 53 will beadjusted so that the occupants feet will touch the ground with a verylight pressure but sufficient to enable the occupant to propel the seatstructure around the center post 10. As the occupant exerts pedal efforton the ground below the seat structure 56 the variations in weight of Lthe occupant on the seat incident to this effort will cause the seatstructure to rise up and down giving the occupant the sensation ofriding a running or bucking horse or pony.

The device can he easily modified to carry two or more seat structures,if desired, but operates in an entirely satisfactory manner with asingle arm and seat structure, as illustrated.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. 'I'he presentembodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embracedtherein.

What is claimed is:

1. An amusement device of the merry-go-round type comprising: astationary structure including an upright post part at least of which isof exteriorly circular cross section; and a rotary structure carried bythe stationary structure and including a shaft journaled in the post forrotation about a substantially vertical axis, an arm extending laterallyfrom and hinged to the shaft to swing about a substantially horizontalaxis, rider support means on the arm spaced longitudinally thereof fromthe hinge axis, a platform suspended from the shaft and includingrollers engaging said part of the post for rolling of the platform aboutthe post, and means connected between the platform and a portion of thearm spaced longitudinally of the arm from said hinge axis, including acompression spring tensioned to resiliently oppose downward swinging ofthe arm by a supported rider.

2. An amusement device of the merry-go-round type comprising: astationary structure including an upright post part at least of which isof exteriorly circular cross section; and a rotary structure carried bythe stationary structure and including a shaft journaled in the post forrotation about a substantially vertical axis, an arm extending laterallyfrom and hinged to the shaft to swing about a substantially horizontalaxis, rider support means on the arm spaced longitudinally thereof fromthe hinge axis, a platform suspended from the shaft and includingrollers engaging said part of the post for rolling of the platform aboutthe post, and means connected between the platform and a portion of thearm spaced longitudinally of the arm from said hinge axis, including acompression spring tensioned to resiliently oppose downward swinging ofthe arm by a supported rider, said last named means being adjustablelongitudinally of the arm at the location of its connection thereto'.

3. An amusement device of the merry-go-round type comprising: astationary structure including an upright post part at least of which isof exteriorly circular cross section; and a rotary structure carried bythe stationary structure and including a shaft projecting upwardly fromthe upper end of the post and journaled in the post for rotation about asubstantiallyjvertical axis, an arm extending laterally from and hingedto the shaft to swing about a substantially horizontal axis, ridersupport means on the arm spaced longitudinally thereof from the hingeaxis, a pair of braces connected at one end to and depending from theshaft alongside the post, a platform connected to the other ends of thebraces and including rollers engaging said part of the post for rollingof the platform about the post, and means connected between the platformand a portion of the arm spaced longitudinally of the arm from the hingeaxis, including a compression spring tensioned to resiliently opposedownward swinging of the arm by a supported rider.

4. An amusement device of the merry-go-round type comprising: astationary structure including an upright post part at least of which isof exteriorly circular cross section; and a rotary structure carried bythe stationary structure and including a shaft projecting upwardly fromthe upper end of the post and journaled in the post for rotation about asubstantially vertical axis, an arm extending laterally from and hingedto the shaft to swing about a substantially horizontal axis, ridersupport means on the arm spaced longitudinally thereof from the hingeaxis, a pair of braces connected at one end to and depending from theshaft alongside the post, a platform connected to the other ends of thebraces and including rollers engaging said part of the post for rollingof the platform about the post, and means connected between the platformand a portion of the arm spaced longitudinally of the arm from the hingeaxis, including a compression spring tensioned to resiliently opposedownward swinging of the arm by a supported rider, said last named meansincluding a sleeve shiftable longitudinally of the arm to selectedpositions along the arm, the spring being pivotally joined to saidsleeve at one end of the spring, the platform having an opening, a stemextending through the platform opening, an abutment plate carried by thestem and supporting the other end of the spring, the stem having alongitudinal series of apertures, and a stop pin removably engageable ina selected aperture of said series and bearing against the platform.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED `STATES PATENTS1,429,289 Maxwell et al Sept. 19, 1922 1,832,755 Waddell Nov. 17, 19312,527,763 Probst Oct. 3l, 1950 2,544,589 Cummings Mar. 6, 1951

